Adjustable interrupter for ignition-dynamos.



C. T. MASON.

ADJUSTABLE lNTERRUPTER-FOR 'mwmow DYNAMOS. APPLICATION FIVLED MAY 16, 1916- 1,226,982. Patented May 22, 1917.

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gnvenhn C /Wason Ghana C. T. MASON.

ADJUSTABLE INTERRUPTER FOR IGNITION DYNAMOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I6, 1916.

1,226,982. Patented May 22, 1917.

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F/6 I4 F/QS. 6

Car/ 7: Mason.

61mm, I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL THOMAS MASON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 SPLITDORF ELEG- TRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ADJUSTABLE INTERRUPTER FOR IGNITION-DYNAMOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed May 16, 1916. Serial No. 97,817.

. T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL THOMAS MASON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Interrupters for Ignition-Dynamos, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to ignition dynamos, commonly called magnetos, in which an interrupter mechanism is commonly employed, and the object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the interrupter mechanism as a unit in relation to the break in the magnetic circuit of the magneto so as to compensate for wearin the interrupter mechanism or other parts, or'for inaccuracies in manufacturing.

It is well known that the interrupter points in a magneto must separate when the rotor of the magneto is in a certain position, to insure the utilization of the maximum current generated, and it is obvious that should the cam operating the interrupter mechanism wear, that the relation between the parts will be altered and the efficiency of the machine thereby affected.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, is a view partly in section of a magneto embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, I

views showing various means of adjusting the interrupter casing. Fig. 6 1s a view of the interrupter casing and parts movable therewith. Figs. 7 8 and 9 show various positions of the rotor of a well known type of magneto in relation to the field poles for the purpose of illustrating the conditions it is possible to correct by means of the arrangements constituting my invention. Like figures of reference denote the same parts wherever they are shown. I

The numeral 1 denotes a well known form of ignition dynamo, having a shaft 2, driving the cam 3 for operating the interrupter lever 4, carrying in the usual manner, a contact point adapted to engage a second contact in the fixed anvil 5, which is supported on the interrupter casing 6. In the type of magneto shown, this casing 6 is provided with a cover 7 and an ofi'-set portion 8 fanning an advance and retard lever,

by which the casing and parts thereon are movable about the axis of the cam 3 for timing purposes ina well known manner.

Heretofore it has been customary to mount the interrupter casing on some portion of the magneto, as for instance directly on one end of the bearing holder 9, and it will be understood the sald bearing holder 9 is also movable for timing purposes as this magneto is of the type shown and describedv in U. S. Patent #1,167,310, dated January 4,1916.

Often in nmnufacture certain inaccuracies will occur, which make it necessary to slightly adjust the interrupter mechanism as a whole in relation to the cam 3, without a corresponding adjustment of bearing holder 9; orit becomes necessary, due to the wear of the camv 3 or to the usual fiber bumper 10 thereof, to adjust this part, so I provide the following arrangement:

lldenotes the outwardly projecting end of the bearing holder 9. A shoulder on the casing 6 fits over this end of the bearing holder, the latter being provided with cutaway portions 12, 13,14 and 15, as shown. A ring 16 is placed within the projecting end 11 and by means of suitable screws, 17, 18, 19 and 20, the ring, the projecting end 11 of the bearing holder and the interrupter casing 6 may be clamped together, as shown in Fig. 2. I

It will now be evident that by loosening the screws 17 18, 19 and 20, that the interrupter casing 6 may be adjusted about the end of the bearing holder 9 to the extent permitted by the length of the slots 12, 13, 1 1 and 15; and that when the screws in said slots are tightened, the projecting lever is may be operated in the usual manner and the interrupter mechanism together with the bearing holder and its connected parts may be moved together for timing purposes in the ordinary way.

In Fig. 3, an alternate form ofadjustment is shown. Here the screws 17, 18, 19 and 20 engage tapped holes in the end 11 of the bearing holder. Suitable keys-ways indicated at 21 and 22 are arranged on a Vernier system, and a suitable key 23 enables the interrupter casing to be definitely locked in relation to the end of the bearing holder,

after which the locking screws may be tightened. By means of the vernier, a suitable accurate adjustment is provided.

Fig. 4, shows an arrangement in which the end 11 of the bearing. holder has a downwardly projecting boss 24 adapted to be engaged by the adjusting screws 25 and 26, which are provided with suitable lock nuts. These screws are supported in a portion 24 integral with or attached to the casing 6, and it is obvious how the radial adjustment of said casing is secured.

Fig. 5, shows an alternate arrangement wherein a portion of the end 11 of the bear ing holder is threaded as indicated at 28, and is engaged by a threaded bolt 29, the end thrust of the latter being taken by a small yoke plate 30 attached to the outside of the interrupter casing 65. The lock nut 31 is employed to secure the adjustment, and after this is obtained, the screws 17 and 18 may be tightened to securely lock the parts in place, it being understood that in both the arrangements shown in Figs. 4.- and 5, slots of suitable length are provided in the casing 8 for the heads of the screws just mentioned, and to allowsuflicient adjustment.

Fig. 9, shows the position of the rotor when the contacts of the interrupter mechanism Fig. 6 are just starting to open, thereby securing the benefit of the maximum saturation in the magnetic current, it being understood that 32 and 33 are the rotatingmagnetic members of the rotor in a magneto of the type shown in the patent hereinbefore mentioned, while 34 and 35 denote the pole pieces supporting the core carrying the generating windings.

In Fig. .7, is shown a condition where due to wear or inaccuracy in manufacturethe interrupter points would open before 32 separated from 35, therefore the highest efliciency would not be obtained. Another condition is shown in Fig. 8, where 32 has rotated too far beyond 35 and here the performance of the magneto would also be unsatisfactory. The condition shown in either Fig. 7 or 8 can be remedied and the opening of the interrupter points made to coincide with the proper relative position of the rotor and pole pieces by any one of the arrangements shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, the broad idea of having the interrupter mechanism adjustable relative to the other adjustable parts of the magneto, constituting this invention.

1. Anelectric generator including a rotor, a set of pole pieces adjacent thereto, a member connected to said pole, pieces, and interrupter mechanism including contact pointsadjustably secured to said member.

2-. An electric generator including a ro tor, a set of pole pieces ad acent said rotor,

a member connected to said pole pieces and forming a bearing support, and interrupter mechanism including contact points adjustably secured to said member.

3. An electric generator including a rotor, a set of pole pieces adjacent said rotor, a member connected to said pole pieces and forming a bearing support having a laterally extending portion, interrupter mechanism, and a support for said mechanism ad justably secured to the laterally extending portion of said member, substantially as de scribed.

4. An electric generator including a, rotor. a bearing support therefor having an annular extension, interrupter mechanism, a support therefor adjustably secured to said extension, and means for locking said interrupter mechanism support in place.

5. An electric generator including a. rotor, a set of pole pieces angularly adjustable with relation to said rotor, a member connected to said pole pieces and movable therewith, and interrupter mechanism adjustably scoured to said member.

6. An electric generator including a rotor, a set of pole pieces angularly adjustable with relation to said rotor, a member secured to said pole piecesmovable therewith and forming a bearing support for said rotor, and interrupter mechanism adjustably secured to said member, substantially as described.

7. An electric generator including a rotor, a driving shaft therefor, a cam on said shaft, a bearing support for said shaft, interrupter mechanism, a case for said interrupter mechanism positioned about said cam, and means for adjustably positioning said interrupter case on said bearing support whereby the said case may be adjusted in relation to said cam.

8. An electric generator including a rotor, a driving shaft therefor, a cam on said shaft, an interrupter casing, interrupter mechanism carriedby said casing, a bearin support for said shaft having a lateral y ex-' tending boss, and means for'adjustably positioning said interrupter casing on said boss, sald means including a key and a plurality of keyways, substantially as described.

9. An electric generator including a rotor, a driving shaft therefor, a cam on said shaft, an interrupter casing, interru ter mechanism carried by said casing, a caring support for said shaft having a laterally ex tending boss, and means for adjustably positioning said interrupter casing, on said boss, said means including oppositely disposed adjusting screws in said casing adapted to engage a part of said boss, substantially as described.

10. An electric generator including a rotor, a driving shaft therefor, a cam on said shaft, an interrupter casing, interrupter mechanism carried by said casing, a bearing support for said shaft having a laterally extending boss having a. threaded portion, and means for adjustably positioning said interrupter casing on said boss, said means including a screw secured to said casing and adapted to engage the threaded portion of said boss whereby adjustment may be effect ed, substantially as described.

11. In an ignition dynamo, interrupter mechanism, a driving shaft, means actuated by said shaft for operating said interrupter mechanism, means for adjusting all of said interrupter mechanism about the axis of said operating means for normal timing purposes, and mea s in addition to said first mentioned" adju ting means whereby the interrupter mechanism as a unit may be adj usted without aifecting said first mentioned adjustment, for the purpose specified, substantially as described.

12. In an ignition dynamo, a rotor, a shaft therefor, a support for said shaft movable for timing purposes, and interrupter mechanism including contact points adjustable for the purposes specified secured to said support and normally movable therewith, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL THOMAS MASON.

Witnesses A. D. T. LIBBY, M. OLSEN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. G. 

